Intermittent alarm mechanism



g 1970 J. E. MORTON ETAL 3,524,314

INTERM-ITTENT ALARM MECHANI SM Filed July 1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6.9\("61 1 20 Aug. 18, 1970 E, MORTON ET AL 3,524,314

INTERMITTENT ALARM MECHANISM Filed July 1-, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mIIIIIIIIII llllllllllllllllllll fin/M5" g m a 011m aw Md a United StatesPatent 3,524,314 INTERMITIENT ALARM MECHANISM James E. Morton, Lombard,James W. Richmond, Bensenville, and Robert H. Houf, Jr., Addison, Ill.,assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation ofIllinois Filed July 1, 1968, Ser. No. 741,802 Int. Cl. G041) 19/30,23/10; G04c 21/36 US. CI. 58-18 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Inan alarm clock, an intermittent alarm mechanism which allows the alarmto sound intermittently and an alarm selector member which permits theselective disengagement of the intermittent alarm mechanism to free thealarm to sound continuously during the alarm period. The intermittentalarm mechanism comprises a disc with at least one notch in itsperiphery driven by the clock movement at a constant speed and an alarmrestraining member having a fixed end and a free end. The alarmrestraining member having a projecting finger that rides against theperiphery of the driven disc to position the free end to hold thevibrator in the alarm restraining position except for those intervals ofthe discs rotation that the projection falls into one of the discsnotches. The fixed end of the restraining member being rotatably mountedon the'alarm selector member. The alarm selector member including aneccentric cam member to permit the shifting of the fixed end such thatthe free end is shifted away from the alarms vibrator to free it tosound continuously. The alarm selector member further including (1) analarm selector knob to permit the user to select either the repeat orsteady alarm positions, (2) a stop member to limit the selector membersmovement between these two positions, and (3) a hold member to insurethe selector member will only be in one or the other of these twopositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, clock manufacturers havebeen providing an alarm interrupting mechanism in alarm clocks wherebythe sounding of the alarm is temporarily interrupted to permit the userto go back to sleep for a selected interval of time. After theexpiration of this interval of time, the alarm is again permitted tosound. The mechanism for providing these temporary interruptions can bedesigned to be either manually actuated by the user or operateautomatically. The present invention relates to the automatic alarminterrupting mechanism.

One of the features of the present invention is an intermittent alarmmechanism. This mechanism permits the sounding of the alarmintermittently until the alarm shutoff lever is pushed off by the user.Previously intermittent alarm systems have been quite complicated indesign and, consequently, expensive to manufacture. The intermittentalarm mechanism of the present invention is considerably more simple andhas functional advantages when compared with these previous systems.

Another important feature of the present invention is an alarm selectingmember which permits the user to alternatively set the alarm to soundcontinuously or intermittently. This alarm selecting member is alsosimple in construction and cooperates with the intermittent alarmmechanism in a unique manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of an alarmclock having a novel intermittent alarm mechanism and alarm seicelecting member that cooperate together in a unique manner.

The alarm selecting member can be manually set by the user to either oftwo positions-steady alarm or repeat alarm. When set in the steady alarmposition, the alarm selecting member functions to prevent theintermittent alarm mechanism from interfering with the sounding of thealarm to provide a continuous sounding of the alarm. When set to therepeat alarm position, the alarm selecting member shifts theintermittent alarm mechanism into its operating position to provide anintermittent sounding of the alarm.

The intermittent alarm mechanism consists of two cooperating parts-adriven disc and an alarm restraining member. The disc is pressed on theend of the seconds gear shaft and has one or more notches cut into itsperiphery. The alarm restraining member is pivotally mounted to the backof the clock at its fixed end. An integral finger extends from itsmiddle portion and rides against the cam to press the free end of thelever against the alarms vibrator. The finger falls into each of thediscs notches as they rotate past, permitting the force of the leversfree end against the vibrator to be relieved momentarily and allowingthe alarm to sound. Thus, the disc and alarm restraining membercooperate to provide an intermittent sounding of the alarm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedintermittent alarm mechanism for use With an alarm clock.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an intermittentalarm mechanism which may easily be added to a conventional alarmmovement.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an alarmselecting member for choosing the sounding of the alarm to be eithercontinuous or intermittent.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of theinvention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric alarm clock embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the intermittent alarm mechanism andalarm selecting member mounted on the rear of the clock motor andmovement and with the alarm converting member in the steady alarmposition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but with thealarm selecting member in the repeat alarm position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the clock and motor movementwith the intermittent alarm mechanism and the alarm selecting member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 withthe alarm shutoff lever in the oli position and the alarm selectormember in the steady alarm position; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational perspective view of the alarmrestraining member lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an electric clock generally indicated at20 comprising a suitable casing 21, the front of which includes atransparent crystal 22 which shields and exposes to view a clock face ordial 23. Disposed between transparent crystal 22 and clock face 23 areconventional sweep second hand 24, minute hand 25, hour hand 26 andalarm indicator 27. The elements 24, 25, 26 and 27 are rotatable about acommon axis and are supported on an arrangement of concentric shafts.

Clock has three posts 31 extending forwardly of its rear wall 32 fromwhich is supported a clock motor and movement 29 by means of threerearwardly extending cup members 30 being secured to post 31.

The details of the clock motor and movement 29 form no part of theinstant invention and are fully disclosed in Jepson et a1. Pat. No.3,248,867 which is assigned to the same assignee as the instantapplication. Briefly, however, the clock motor and movement 29 includesfront and rear supporting plates 41 and 42, respectively. The plates 41and 42 are steel stampings which serve as field members for the clockmotor as well as supporting members for the various portions of themovement and the alarm mechanism associated with the clock. The clockmotor and movement 29 is provided with a vibrator 43 which is secured atits lower end to plate 41 by means of rivets 44 and extends in spacerelation upwardly to the plate 42. As may be seen in FIG. 6, the upperend of the vibrator is formed with an enlarged end portion 45 whichserves as an armature for moving the vibrator 43 in the magnetic fieldproduced adjacent the vibrator 42 by a motor field coil 46.

As is more completely explained in the above-identified Jepson et al.patent, field coil 46 cooperates with the plates 41 and 42 to delivermagnetic flux to field pole pieces 47 shown in FIG. 2. The pole pieces47 are positioned around a permanent magnet rotor (not shown). As iswell understood in the clock art, the pulsating magnetic field producedadjacent the supporting plates 42 will cause the vibrator 43 to move inand out rapidly against the plate 42 producing an audible alarmindication.

Approximately midway between the ends of the armature portion 45 of thevibrator 43, there is provided an alarm lever 48 which is mounted forpivotal movement into wedging engagement between the vibrator 43 and thesupport plate 42. In such wedging position, the vibrator is restrainedfrom moving and produces no sound. The alarm lever 48 is normallypositioned in restraining or wedging engagement with the vibrator 43 andis rotated out of engagement with the vibrator when the alarm mechanismincluded in the clock motor and movement 29 pivots the alarm lever 48 atthe preselected time for the alarm to sound. The mechanism foraccomplishing this pivotal movement of the alarm lever 48 as well as thedetails of the alarm lever 48 and its mounting are completely shown inthe above-cited Jepson et a1. patent.

To permit the holding or retaining of alarm lever 48 in the vibratorretained position, clock, 20 includes a manual shutoff 49 (FIG. 6).Shutoif 49 consists of a stamped sheet metal member 50 which extendsdiagonally across plate 42 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 and is mounted forvertical sliding movement on back plate 42 and a triangular-shapedmember 60 that is slidably mounted on rear wall 32.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the metal stamping member 50 ofshutoff 49 in the on and off positions, respectively. Member 50 movesvertically in shifting between these two positions. This vertical motionis caused by the coaction of slot 51 and trackway 52 with the enlargedheads of screws 53 and 54, respectively. Trackway 52 is defined by twoparallel rails 55 and 56. Rail 56 is rigid and rail 55 is somewhatflexible and has a small detent 57 on its inside surface whichcooperates with screw 54 to hold member 50 in the off position as shownin FIG. 7.

To move the manual shutofi' 49 to either the on or off position, thetriangular member 60 is provided with a handle 61 which extends abovethe top of casing 21 and is convenient for manual actuation to move iteither up or down. Metal stamping member 50 is caused to reciprocatevertically with triangular member through the connection of flat piece58 and slot 62 as is best shown in FIG. 6. Flat piece 58 is an integralprojection that extends perpendicularly from the member 50 and fits intoslot 62 that is formed in a boss 63 extending forwardly of triangularmember 60. The triangular member 60 is guided in its vertical motion bythe three slots 64, and 66 formed therein cooperating with three membersextending forwardly of rear wall 32 as can best be seen in FIG. 1. Slot64 cooperates with the upper post 31, slot 65 cooperates with anintegral cylindrical hub 67 that extends forwardly from rear wall 32,and slot 66 cooperates with a screw 67 that is mounted to rear wall 32.To prevent any horizontal or forward motion by triangular member 60 atits upper end, handle 61 is seated in a U-shaped opening 70 in the topplate 69 of casing 21 and the lower end of member 60 is secured againstforward or lateral movement by the enlarged head of screw 68 that holdsthe slot 66 in place.

To adjust the intensity of the alarm sounds, a sound control is providedas illustrated in FIG. 1. Sound control 75 consists of an eccentric cammember 76 that is adjusted by sound knob 77 to vary the force applied byspring member 78 against vibrator 43. Referring to FIG. 1, as theeccentric cam 76 is rotated counterclockwise, short arm 79 is moved tothe left to exert a counterclockwise force around screw 80 to providethrough long arm 81 a gradually increasing force against vibrator 43.Thus, this simple mechanism of sound control 75 provides the user withthe ability to select the desired sound intensity by varying knob '77that extends from the front face of clock 20.

To enable the clock 20 to be viewed during the night, dial face 23 iscontinuously lit by lamp 82. Lamp 82 is placed behind the translucentdial 22 in a manner well known in the art. The user may vary the lightintensity of the dial face 23 by rotating the light control knob 83 thatextends from the front face of casing 21. Light control 83 ismechanically coupled to a potentiometer 84. P0- tentiometer '84 could beany of the well known commercial potentiometers and is electricallyconnected to lamp 82 and varies the voltage applied to lamp 82 toselectively vary the light intensity of lamp 82. Potentiometer 84 iselectrically connected to appliance cord 85 which is also connected toclock motor movement 29 to energize it. The connections are not shown inFIG. 1 but are well known in the art.

Mounted on the rear face of support plate 42 is an intermittent alarmmechanism which functions'to intermittently interrupt the sound of thealarm vibrator 43. The intermittent alarm mechanism 100 consists of onlytwo parts which have been added to convert the conventional alarmmovement into one equipped with the intermittent mechanism. These partsare an alarm restraining member 102 and a driven disc 103. By theaddition of one part, an alarm selector member 105, means are providedfor selecting the sounding of the alarm to be either intermittent orcontinuous.

The alarm restraining member 102 is essentially a flat metal piece asillustrated in FIG. 8. It has a projecting finger 106 which cooperateswith driven disc 103 as will be described hereafter. Alarm restrainingmember 102 is connected to alarm selector member 105 at its lower orfixed end 107 in a manner that will be described hereinafter. The upperor free end 108 of restraining member 102 shifts between the positionsshown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 2. Free end 108 is prevented from swingingbeyond the position of FIG. 2 by the cooperation of its C-shaped recess109 with the shank of screw 53. When the alarm restraining member 102 isin the restraining position as shown in FIG. 3, nose piece 110 of member102 would prevent any movement of vibrator 43 whenever the alarm lever48 is pivoted away from the vibrator 43 due to the arrival of thepreselected time for the alarm to sound.

The driven disc 103 is rotatably mounted behind rear plate 42 by a shaft140 that is supported in an opening in plate 42 by a plastic insert 111(FIG. 4). Shaft 140 is driven at a constant speed by the seconds gear ofmotor and clock movement 29. Pinion 113 is secured to gear 112 and itdrives minute gear 114 in the same manner as is described in theabove-mentioned Jepson et a1. patent.

Driven disc 103 is rotated at a constant speed to provide a uniformintermittent sounding of vibrator -43. Fnger projection 106 of alarmrestraining member 102 rides against the outer periphery of disc 103. Asthe disc rotates clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, finger projection 106drops into the notches 115 and the free end 108 is rotated clockwiseaway from the vibrator to permit it to sound as is illustrated in FIG.3. The finger member is, within a few seconds, driven out of the notch115, and once again the free end 108 is positioned to hold the vi bratorin a restraining relationship. As can be readily appreciated, thefrequency of the intermittent sounding of the alarm can be readilychosen in accordance with the number of notches 115 made in theperiphery of the driven disc 103.

To prevent undue wear on the gears of clock motor and movement 29 andthe parts of intermittent alarm mechanism 100, the alarm lever 48 isdesigned to hold the vibrator 43 when in the restraining position just afew degrees away from the nose portion 110 of the restraining member102. The reason for this design feature is that the intermittent alarmmechanism 100 operates continuously twenty-four hours a day and ifpermitted to engage the vibrator 43, it would exert a reaction forceagainst the restraining member 102 and disc 103, thereby causing wearintroducing unwanted noises.

In order to provide the user of clock 20 with the choice of eitherhaving an intermittent sounding of the alarm or a continuous sounding,an alarm selector member 105 cooperates selectively with theintermittent alarm mechanism to disengage it from effecting the soundingof the alarm. All the parts of the alarm selector member 105 are securedto a shaft 120 which is supported by the front and rear plates 41 and42.

Mounted directly behind plate 42 on shaft 120 is a cam member 121 whichhas eccentric piece 122 extending from its forward end. To hold theeccentric piece 122 flush against outer surface of plate 42, a flatmetal piece 124 is secured to the shaft 120 and is positioned adjacentto the inner surface of plate 42. Also mounted on shaft 120 betweenplates 41 and 42 are two stop members 125. These stop members 125cooperate with sides of cup member 30 as shown in FIG. 4 to limit therotation of shaft 120 between the steady alarm position and the repeatalarm position.

To permit the user to select either the steady alarm or repeat alarmpositions, a selector knob 123 is provided on the end of shaft 120. Inorder to hold alarm selector member 105 in one of these two positions, alocking means is included on shaft 120. This locking means consists of aC-shaped piece 126 secured to shaft 120. As shown in sectional view ofFIG. 5, piece 126 consists of two flat portions 128, 129 and roundedportion 130. An integral plastic projection 127 extending from insert 30biases against C-shaped piece 126 and holds shaft 120 from movementwhenever it bears against either flat portion 128 or 129. The engagementof these flat portions 128, 129 coincides with one of the stop members125 contacting the side of plastic insert 30 to secure- 1y hold selectormember 105 in either the steady or repeat alarm position.

To deactivate the intermittent alarm mechanism 100, the user would turnselector knob 123 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 3) to move thealarm selector memher 105 from the repeat alarm position of FIG. 3 tothe steady alarm position of FIG. 2. The counterclockwise rotation ofselector knob 123 causes the cam member 121, as shown in FIG. 3, torotate counterclockwise. The eccentric movement of eccentric piece 122of cam member 121 moves the fixed end 107 of the alarm restrainingmember 102 to the left and downward. The stop member prevents the cammember 121 from moving beyond the position shown in FIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the alarm restraining member 102 has been shifted out ofposition from that shown in FIG. 3, such that the free end 108 isseparated from the vibrator 43 at all times and the finger member 106 nolonger rides against the disc 103. Consequently, the vibrator 43 ispermitted to sound continuously during the alarm period.

In view of the foregoing description, the improvements and advantages ofthe intermittent alarm mechanism of the present invention should beobvious. The mechanism is structurally simple, requiring little morethan a onepiece metal stamping and cooperating driven disc to provide anintermittent sounding of the alarm. In addition, this invention providesa means to selectively disengage the intermittent alarm mechanism toprovide a choice of either a steady alarm or a repeat alarm. It is notedthat no additional parts are necessary to the basic construction of theclock motor and movement. The driven disc is mounted to the same shaftas the second gear. The simplicity in design and operation of the alarmmechanism and alarm selector member premits the addition of anintermittent alarm mechanism feature to a standard alarm clock movementwith a small additional amount of expense and without the necessity ofredesigning the whole clock motor and movement mechanism.

While there has been illustrated and described a particular embodimentof the present invention, it will be understood that changes andmodifications may occur to those skilled in the art, and it is,therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such changesand modifications as fall within the true scope and spirit of thepresent invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In an electric alarm clock, a motor and clock movement, a frame forsaid motor and clock movement, an alarm vibrator attached at one end tosaid frame and having a free end positioned for alternate magneticattraction by said motor to produce an audible alarm, a first alarmvibrator restraining member for releasing said vibrator at a preselectedtime and an intermittent alarm mechanism comprising a disc carried bysaid clock frame and driven at a constant speed by said clock movement,said disc having at least one notch cut into its periphery and a secondalarm restraining member comprising a rigid one-piece member having afixed end and a free end, said fixed end being pivotally mounted to saidclock frame, said second restraining member also having a projectingfinger extending from its middle portion, said finger being adapted toride against the periphery of said disc such that said free end ispositioned to press against said alarm vibrator to prevent the soundingof said alarm after said vibrator is released by said first vibratorrestraining member until said projection drops into said notch tothereby free said vibrator to sound for that interval (if time that ittakes said projection to ride out of said notc 2. The device as definedin claim 1, further comprising an alarm selector member that includes ameans for shifting said fixed end in such a manner that said free end isswung out of engagement with said vibrator at all times to free thevibrator to sound continuously.

3. In an alarm clock having an intermittent alarm mechanism forproviding for the intermittent sounding of the alarm, said mechanismcomprising an alarm restraining member having a fixed end, a free endand a means for periodically pressing said free end against the alarmsvibrator for a fixed period of time and then momentarily releasing thispressure to free the vibrator to sound, and

said alarm clock having an alarm selector member to permit the alarm tobe set to sound either continuously or intermittently, said alarmselecting member comprising a shaft rotatably mounted to the clockframe, an eccentric cam member supported on and carried by said shaft,said fixed end of said restraining member being carried by said cammember, said shaft being rotatable between a first and second stopposition by an alarm selector knob secured to one end of said shaft,whereby said fixed end is rotated eccentrically to the axis of saidshaft as said selector knob is rotated from said first position to saidsecond position to shift said free end away from said vibrator to removethe restraining action against said vibrator and thereby provide for acontinuous sounding of said alarm.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, further comprising means forholding said alarm selector member against rotation when in either saidfirst or second positions.

5. In an electric alarm clock, a motor and clock movement, a frame forsaid motor and clock movement, an alarm vibrator attached at one end tosaid frame and having a free end positioned for alternate magneticattraction by said motor to produce an audible alarm, a first alarmvibrator restraining member for releasing said vibrator at a preselectedtime and an intermittent alarm mechanism comprising a disc mounted onone end of a shaft that is continuously driven by the seconds gear ofsaid clock movement, said disc having at least one notch cut into itsperiphery and a second alarm vibrator restraining member comprising arigid one-piece member, said second vibrator restraining member having afixed end, a free end and an integral projecting finger extend- 8 ingfrom its middle portion, said fixed end being rotatably mounted to saidclock frame, said finger being adapted to ride against the periphery ofsaid disc such that said free end presses against said alarm vibrator toprevent the sounding of said alarm after said vibrator is released bysaid first vibrator restraining member until said projection drops intosaid notch to remove the pressure exerted by said free end against saidvibrator and to free said vibrator to sound for that interval of time ittakes said projection to ride out of said notch.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 further comprising an alarm selectormember to permit the selective setting of the alarm to sound eitherintermittently or continuously, said selector member including a shaftrotatably mounted to said clock frame and means to rotate said fixed endof said restraining member eccentrically about the axis of said shaftsuch that said free end and said projection are shifted, respectively,away from engagement with said vibrator and said disc to thereby freethe vibrator to sound continuously.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,963 5/1937 Moskal 5818 X2,979,885 4/ 1961 Jaccarcl 58l8 3,166,887 1/1965 Jaccard 58l8 RICHARD B.WILKINSON, Primary Examiner 'J. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R. 5821.12, 5O

